Suspects Charged
in Bay Area Rape Case

Three suspects have been charged with gang-raping a lesbian in the San Francisco Bay area in December.

Humberto Hernandez Salvador, 31, and Josue Gonzales, 21, were charged Tuesday with kidnapping, carjacking, and raping the woman December 13 in Richmond, Calif., just north of San Francisco. Hate-crime charges were added for Salvador because, authorities say, the woman was taunted for being a lesbian during the attack. Her name has not been disclosed. This could result in a more severe sentence for him if he is convicted, although life in prison is the maximum sentence for both men. Neither entered a plea when appearing in court Tuesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Darrell Hodges, 16, was arraigned Monday on similar charges. He will be tried as an adult, while a 15-year-old boy whose name has not been released was taken into police custody last week on suspicion of being involved in the attack. If charged, he will be tried as a minor.

The woman was attacked on December 13 after she stepped out of her car, which had a rainbow bumper sticker, according to the Associated Press. One of the men reportedly approached the 28-year-old woman as she crossed the street, hit her with a blunt object, forced her to remove her clothing, and then, along with three others, raped her for 45 minutes.

When the men saw another person approaching, they forced her into her car and took her to a burned-out building, where she was raped again. They left her naked on the street, taking her car and her wallet. She sought help from a nearby resident, who took her to be examined at a hospital. Her car was found abandoned two days later. (Michelle Garcia, Advocate.com)